Lithium

As we mark Lithium Month, a piece in the online journal ChinaDialogue.net highlights the geo-politics of lithium mining, with a full dollop of irony that our green-tech dreams — read, lithium ion batteries — may have their origins in metals that pose considerable environmental challenges as they’re extracted from the earth.

The piece pivots on the fact that China, which ranks behind Chile, Australia and Argentina as the world’s leading lithium-producing nations, is now planning to exploit the salt beds of the high Tibetan Plateau.  For the analyst/author, the dangers posed are largely environmental; others will register the political and social consequences of extracting resources from a region that the U.S. Congress ranks among the world’s captive nations. In either case, it’s a sign that a more diverse supply of lithium — like so many other metals and minerals — is a matter not only of economic importance, but political and even moral importance as well.

BusinessWeek today reports the findings of a new study by PwC predicting chronic shortages of 14 metals and minerals critical to major industrial sectors ranging from chemicals and  aviation to renewable energy sources like wind and solar power.  Lithium, American Resources’ metal of the month, makes the list.  The report, based on a survey of 69 senior executives from major manufacturing companies, concludes that many businesses have come to recognize that “we are living beyond the planet’s means.” Before we reach that apocalyptic conclusion, let’s do what we can to develop the resources that remain available to us. We may find that new sources of supply can turn shortfall to surplus — fueling innovation and economic growth.

As promised, American Resources is closing out the year with yet another feature month.  After “drilling down” into copper and antimony to highlight the breadth of our mineral needs, we’re making lithium our “metal of the month.” Over the next few weeks, we will showcase lithium’s utilities as well as associated challenges.  Demand for lithium [...]

As Copper Month winds to a close, we’re thrilled to begin Antimony Month, the second part of our three-month informational campaign on copper, antimony, and lithium — American Resources’ way of highlighting how metals and minerals are critical to our economic advancement, quality of life and national security.  All this month we’ll be featuring stories [...]

Avalon Rare Metals Inc., a mineral exploration and development company primarily focused on rare earth deposits in Canada, is broadening its scope following a request from an “unnamed international industrial minerals company.” According to a press release issued by the company on October 20th, Avalon may partner with the international company to develop minerals on [...]

CopperMatters.org Shows that Resource Dependency goes beyond Rare Earth Elements Washington, D.C. – The American Resources Policy Network announced today that it would expand on its messaging in favor of exploring the available non-fuel resources in America by launching a campaign for copper, antimony, and lithium – elements readily available in the country, yet not [...]

Buried in a piece at Mining.com about South Korea and Bolivia’s joint-venture to develop the latter nation’s significant lithium reserves – critical to lithium-ion batteries used in cell phones, laptops and electric cars – is this comment from Argentinean officials: Argentina is promoting the idea of an OPEC-like cartel for itself, Bolivia and Chile – [...]